Tens of thosuands of NCEA exam papers have been left untouched on exam room desks because students haven't turned up or "forgot" to sit them.
In the past three years, about 6.5 per cent of exam papers have been left untouched - in part because some students know they have enough credits to pass without sitting the exams.
There are no penalties for failing to sit NCEA exams.
Teachers from a Wellington college were disappointed some students had not sat their end-of-year exams and, in a school newsletter, said there was no excuse for forgetting, especially in an age of electronic reminders.
